Red, white and blue weekend

This 4th of July, there will be celebrations all-around the Newton County area, including:

Covington

On behalf of Main Street Covington and other sponsors, McKibben Music will hold "Saturday in the Park," a music festival loaded with musicians from the local community. The event will take place on the square in Covington on July 3 at 4 p.m.

The lineup

• The Biggers

• The Church at Covington Praise Team

• The Hannah Thomas Band

• Blue Max

• Thomas Tillman

• Drive Time’s All-Star Band

The city will be honoring local legends J.R. Cobb and Barry Bailey of the Atlanta Rhythm Section with keys to the city.

"We’ll have two stages set up; this way we’ll have constant music," Mac McKibben, the owner of McKibben Music, said. "With all the local performers we have, we want to get the community involved and have a good time."

Then on July 4, children and adults of all ages are invited to participate in the Covington Community Bike Ride. The riders will leave from the Square at 3 p.m. and get to enjoy the scenic beauty of the city.

The holiday will be capped off with Covington’s traditional performance by the Newton County Community Band. The concert will begin at 5 p.m. on the square.

Porterdale

The city is gearing up for what promises to be an extravagant celebration. Funded entirely on donations from the community, the city is expecting a larger turnout than last year.

The highly anticipated fireworks show looks to be larger and more spectacular than the previous year. The display will cost an upward of $12,000, compared to $10,000 spent last year. According to Joe Norwood, of the Events Committee of Porterdale, this will be the largest display Newton County has ever seen.

Beginning in downtown at 3 p.m., July 4, the celebration will include, face painting, karaoke, moonwalks and other activities. Vendors like Burnie’s BBQ and Jimbo’s Bar & Grill will be providing food and entertainment, while the Fire Department will also be preparing hamburgers and hotdogs for a fundraiser.

Social Circle

Volunteers from across the city, led by Bishop Bill Davenport of the Corinth Missionary Baptist Church, will be taking part in the city’s holiday celebration and parade.

The parade, referred to as the "people’s parade," will begin at 5:30 p.m. July 3. It will feature tractors, wagons, cars, motorcycles, golf carts, floats, local politicians and many others. The parade will start at the United Methodist Church and ends at the football field in Walton County Recreational Department.

The parade, sponsored by a large variety of churches and other private sponsors, will be followed by concessions and a gospel concert. The Georgia Army National Guard Band will also be performing. At dark, the fireworks will begin. Cindy Stubbs, who is in charge of the parade, welcomes everyone to participate in the event.

"Just be patriotic," Stubbs said.

On July 4, there will also be a car show in the downtown area. The show will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Oxford

Maintaining their tradition, the Oxford Lions Club, partnered with the city, will host its annual parade and celebration.

Beginning at 10 a.m. July 5, the parade will start at Haywood Avenue, make its way through Emory and Wesley Street and end at Old Church. Floats, bicycles, horses, motorized vehicles and some local politician will make up the parade.

After the parade, the Oxford Lions Club will provide live music and refreshments at Old Church, along with free watermelon and popcorn. Awards will also be presented to the best parade entries.

"We’re a small town and we want everyone to come and participate with safety in their mind," Nancy Henderson, co-chair of the event, said. "People wanting join in the parade can still register by 9:30 a.m. on the day of the event. However, please remember that only licensed drivers may operate motorized vehicles that will be in the parade."